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Diagnose rheumatoid arthritis

3 million Americans suffer from rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, making it the most common diagnose rheumatoid arthritis of arthritis. Find out how to treat RA symptoms.

Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms — Dr. As I’m sure you’re well aware, an estimated 52. How prevalent do people have to deal with rheumatoid arthritis symptoms? 5 million Americans at any given time. Thus the question arises: Is there anything you can do about this? As a matter of fact, there are a few things you can do to treat rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, and it starts with, well, knowing what those common rheumatoid arthritis symptoms are. For most people, their rheumatoid arthritis symptoms tend to flare up at times and become worse when inflammation levels rise, but then become better for a while, only to return once again.

RA, only ways to manage rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and inflammation. When RA isn’t managed well, complications can develop over time, including significant joint damage, hormonal changes, nerve damage and dangerous inflammation of blood vessels. The underlying cause of RA is inflammation, which is triggered by autoimmune reactions and causes joints to deteriorate over time. When someone has arthritis, a person’s immune system attacks his or her own healthy body tissue and causes loss of cartilage. Because high levels of inflammation are lurking below the surface whenever someone has rheumatoid arthritis, RA commonly affects other parts of the body, including vital organs and the endocrine glands. Studies show that people who receive early treatment for arthritis feel better sooner, have better quality of lives long term, and reduce the need or surgeries or risk for complications. Being proactive about reducing inflammation and other risk factors associated with RA can help improve someone’s quality of life and doesn’t pose the risk for side effects that often come along with long-term medication use.

Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms are caused by the loss of cartilage in joints, inflamed tissue surrounding joints and a tightening gap between joints due to swelling. The result is that joints become unable to move smoothly — weak, stiff, loose or unstable — and the buffering space normally between bones can become smaller, which limits range of motion. Swelling in and around certain joints lasts for six weeks or more. Any joint can become damaged due to RA, but the wrists, feet, hands, ankles and knees are most commonly affected. 30 minutes or more — Some people experience morning stiffness for several hours just about every morning. What are some of the ways that you can tell if a flare-up in rheumatoid arthritis symptoms is coming up? Intense morning stiffness, redness and fluid retention are all good clues.

For some people, RA causes long-term complications due to increased inflammation throughout the body. The immune system’s destructive chemicals wear down cartilage that normally cushions the space between joints and bones, causing friction and pain. Why would the immune system attack the body and create inflammation in tissues, including the joints? Taking a complete medical history, having a physical exam performed, and sometimes getting X-rays or a blood test can all help a doctor make a diagnosis.